Let face it, the great outdoors aren’t so “great” when you have to deal with swarms of stinging, buzzing, blood-sucking insects. Citronella candles are a minor deterrent at best. Fly swatters are a chore. And toxic chemicals are a detriment to the environment. Screen rooms provide a barrier between you and six-, eight-, and 100-legged visitors who want to get to know you. In addition to protection from insects, screen enclosures can help filter out other airborne irritants such as pollen, mold spores, and dust. And let’s not forget their wind, rain, and glare mitigation.When not in use, quickly and easily retract the screen into its protecting casing by pushing a button.

One of the nice things about screen enclosures is that they’re easy to see out of during the day, but they’re not easy to see into. That provides an additional level of privacy open-walled outdoor spaces don’t. Of course, if constant privacy is a priority for you, it’s important to remember that during evening hours when the lights come on inside your home, screens won’t provide as much shielding from prying eyes. Portable privacy screens are an easy solution to this problem. Just set them up after the sun goes down and stow them away in the morning.

Compared to a sunroom or full room addition, a screen room is quite affordable. Since it isn’t fully climate controlled, the HVAC system doesn’t need to be extended beyond its current capacity. Retrofitting an existing porch or patio is the most cost-effective way to create a screen room, but even newly built structures can be relatively inexpensive if they’re not accessorized with a bunch of bells and whistles. Except for the most frigid or hot days, floor fans and portable heaters are enough to keep temperatures comfortable. Add a ceiling fan or two for extra circulation.

No rule says you have to choose between a screen enclosure and a sunroom. Upgradeable screen enclosures can be readily converted into full sunrooms at a later point. These versatile additions are built to the same standards as their more enclosed counterparts, with energy-efficient roofs, insulation-filled siding, and weatherproofed doors and sashes. If you decide at a later point to upgrade, the screens can be easily swapped out for high-performance windows that will provide the enhanced thermal performance you need to efficiently climate control your enclosure.

Screen enclosures are an extremely popular home addition, which means adding one to your home will increase its market value. In fact, the return on investment (ROI) of a screen room is among the highest of any home improvement project. You can expect to get an 84% rate of return, meaning if you spend $10,000 for installation, your home’s value will increase by $8,400. That’s a better ROI than new doors, siding, or upscale kitchen and bathroom remodels.